The grass will finally be cut in three prominent parts of Elgin, following the council’s controversial decision to strip back the service in public places across the region.
Since the local authority slashed funding for grass cutting in February, many parks, fields and other green spaces have become overgrown and full of weeds.
But now, thanks to cash from the council’s Common Good fund, the service will return to Seafield Park in Bishopmill, Doocot Park in New Elgin, and the grassy area around the Wolf of Badenoch statue in the town centre.
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Elgin City North councillor, Frank Brown, said the solution was temporary but would be welcomed by locals.
He said: “While this cannot guarantee a permanent fix for the problems that the decision to end grass cutting have thrown up, it will for at least reinstate these areas for the enjoyment of local residents.
“The Conservative group will continue to demand a review of the decision to make savings by ending grass cutting.”
Moray Council leader, and fellow Elgin councillor, Graham Leadbitter voiced hopes that Common Good cash could be used to trim the grass in other areas across the region.
The decision will be left in the hands of the councillors who represent those wards.
Mr Leadbitter said: “As a group of Elgin councillors, we discussed what we were using the Common Good fund for and whether we could utilise some of that funding to help maintain some of the more prominent areas around Elgin.
“I’m very pleased that there was unanimous agreement by the councillors to use this funding for these areas.
“I know that councillors in other areas are also looking at Common Good funding to see if they can mitigate some of the loss of grass cutting in their communities.”
However, the SNP representative said he does not foresee a reversal of the unpopular decision to reduce grass cutting.
He added: “The council still has a significant deficit to deal with in the upcoming budget, and unpicking what’s already been done is certainly not going to help balance that.”
